Dry Or Oily Skin? These Facial Steamers Are A Must-Have Beauty Accessory

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Dry skin, blemishes or blackheads have you feeling like you should just stay inside this winter? If going to the spa or specialist is simply out of your budget (and busy schedule), this three-in-one NanoSteamer facial steamer could be just the ticket – at a fraction of the usual price.

We explore how facial steaming actually works (and is designed to help your skin), along with a few suggested techniques to use the facial steamer, and risks to avoid. If you’ve been on the fence about purchasing a facial steamer, this sale price could be just what you need to make the leap to level up your skincare routine.

How Does Steaming Help Your Skin?

There’s a number of different benefits when it comes to using a facial steamer, from hydration to cleansing depending on your needs and skin type.

Some benefits may include:

• Loosening buildup in your pores, making blackheads and sebum easier to remove. It also releases acne-causing bacteria and cells, according to one source.
• Softening skin to prepare for extractions and skincare product application.
• Promoting circulation through blood vessel dilation and increase in perspiration.
• Skin hydration by helping to increase natural oil production.
• Skin care product absorption by increasing the skin’s permeability.
• If you have sinus congestion, the steam can help relieve headache and congestion symptoms.

Facial Steaming Techniques

1. Prep your steamer and choose your water

The product manuals and reviewers recommend using distilled water for the best results, though you can use tap or spring water. As we discussed in our Best Humidifiers Guide, using tap water may cause the steamer to release airborne minerals that are not suitable for inhalation.

2. Prep and cleanse your skin

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. You want your skin to be free of dirt, makeup, oils and skin cells so that as you apply the steam, these impurities don’t make their way in and clog up your pores.

3. During the steaming process, you should…

Keep your eyes closed, and angle your face between six to 10 inches away. Be sure to read the product manual, but typically each steam session shouldn’t be longer than 10 minutes to avoid skin irritation or risk of burns.

4. Skincare after steaming

Once you’ve finished using the facial steamer, you can finish your regular skincare routine, including face masks (for extra moisturizing or brightening effects), toner or a splash of cold water to close your pores, and moisturizer.

How Often Should I Use A Facial Steamer?

You should not use a facial steamer everyday - consider this similar to a strong exfoliator. You’ll want to consider your skin type.

• Sensitive skin types may have reactions to a facial steamer, and should be used carefully (or not at all).
• Oily skin types may benefit from using it up to two or three times a week
• Dry skin types should limit it to once a week to avoid over drying.

Our Top Picks: Best Selling Facial Steamers Of 2025

1. NanoSteamer Large Three-In-One Nano Ionic Facial Steamer

Shop It: Amazon, Walmart

Price: $39.95 plus additional coupon, was $56.95 at Amazon and Walmart

Features:

• Functions: facial steamer, humidifier and towel warmer
• Comes with a five-piece stainless steel skin kit
• 200ml water tank
• Up to 30 minutes of runtime

This NanoSteamer by Pure Daily Care is one of the best selling and most popular facial steamers on Amazon and Walmart thanks to its relatively budget-friendly price, functionality, steam quality and ease of use. With 4.4-stars and over 43,000 company reviews, this popular facial steamer is also currently marked down to just under $33 at both retailers in a limited time deal.

One reviewer called it a “sinus miracle worker and pore opener”, saying, “You need to use distilled water, and the good news is a little water goes a long way. The steamer heats up very quickly and emits efficiently, which has helped my sinus issues greatly. I will also use it before I apply my facial mask. I like the versatility of the steamer with its different settings for face steamer, towel steamer and humidifier.”

Some complaints about the facial steamer felt like the towel warmer function isn’t great, another mentioned that the water reservoir didn’t last as long as the company claimed, and others had temperature control issues with either too little or too hot steam.

2. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Pro Facial Steamer

Shop It: Amazon, Sephora

Price: $159 at Sephora and Amazon

Features:

• Compact design
• Automatic safety shut off
• Water tank size not specified

This is going into the “splurge” category, but the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Pro Facial Steamer has solid reviews despite the hefty price tag. Reviewers found it effective and hydrating, with good steam output.

Reviewers noted it does have a small reservoir, though the company did not specify in any of the boxing materials how much water it will hold. Some mentioned they get about five minutes of steaming.

Another reviewer mentioned the price, saying, “I thought I was ridiculous for paying this much for a steamer. But, it is the first steamer I have owned that did not leak or spew hot water. It’s worth the price to not be afraid of getting burnt by or actually being burnt by scalding hot water. I liked the automatic shutoff when it ran out of water.”

As for complaints, many mentioned that they weren’t completely sold on the idea that it worked better than some of the cheaper options on the market, with others mentioning that since there are no replacement parts, when the water cap or tank started leaking, it meant the entire machine was essentially inoperable.

3. Colorfarm Facial Steamer Nano Ionic

Shop It: Amazon

Price: $39.99 plus additional coupon at Amazon

Features:

• Temperatures up to 104℉ according to company
• Up to 15-minute runtime
• Comes with four-piece stainless steel skin kit
• Auto shut-off
• 70ml tank capacity

We selected the Colorfarm facial steamer as another top pick thanks to its reasonable price point, 4.6-star rating and reviewers agreement on ease of use and value for the money.

The tank capacity is lower than the NanoSteamer selection, so expected runtime will likely be between five and 15 minutes max. As one reviewer said, it’s the “best facial steamer [and] super affordable”, along with the skin tool kit that comes with it. Another reviewer said, “My face feels refreshed and looks brighter after I use it. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to level up their self-care days!”

As for complaints, similar to some of the other products in the market, some felt the steam output was a little weak, and others questioned the longevity of the product. Another reviewer noted it didn’t take long for it to start leaking.

Price accurate and item in stock at time of publish.